post #14706

Mistletoe is a white-berried (Viscum album and Phoradendron leucarpum), or red-berried (Viscum cruciatum or Viscum rotundifolium), or pink-berried (Phoradendron californicum) evergreen parasitic plant with smooth, teardrop-shaped or oval leaves, often associated with Christmas. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originated with the Roman festival of Saturnalia. Mistletoe is frequently incorporated into a kissing_bough

Mistletoe was considered to be sacred by druids, and is still used in contemporary witchcraft.

Often confused with holly, which is entirely different plant. Attempting to kiss someone under a holly is considered bad form, even if the holly is used as a kissing bough.

Related Tags:

• Christmas

See also:

• holly_(plant), sharp-leaved plant with (commonly) red or (sometimes) white berries
• lingonberry, an evergreen with tear-shaped leaves and edible red berries, generally associated with tasty Scandinavian dishes and not kissed under or used by druids.
• accidental_holly, a situation in which holly is mistakenly used in place of mistletoe